The 2017 Myanmar National League, also known as the 2017 Max Cement Myanmar National League, is the 8th season of the Myanmar National League, the top Burmese professional league for association football clubs since its founding in 2009. The nation's highest professional football league was shaken up at the end of the 2016 season following a series of surprise announcements by MNL-1 teams Zwegapin United and Zeyar Shwe Myay stating that they were going to drop out of the League in the next season. Also, Manaw Myay announced the team would be disbanded, despite winning promotion to Myanmar's premier domestic league by finishing the season's MNL-2 from the first place. A committee meeting between the Myanmar Football Federation and Myanmar National League officials held in Yangon on September 10 decided to reverse Southern Myanmar's relegation to MNL-2 in the next season, while Nay Pyi Taw received a surprise promotion into the first-tier league. Facing the loss of three squads and fears of scheduling complications for an 11-team league, MFF officials resolved to allow Southern Myanmar to remain in MNL-1, despite an 11th-place finish with only 14 points in the 2016 season. MNL-2 second-place finishers G.F.A, as well as third-place Nay Pyi Taw, were also promoted to the top league to maintain a 12-team schedule.
Although Zwegapin United initially signalled their intention to drop out of contention on August 22, team owner U Hla Htay later reversed his decision and announced that his team would continue to compete in the MNL-1, with preparations under progress for a home stadium in Hpa-An. In May 2017, Max Cement company sponsored 2017 MNL for second-half season.
Teams A total of 12 teams are competing in the 2017 season: 10 sides from the 2016 season and two promoted teams from the 2016 Myanmar National League 2.
Stadiums
Club Home City Stadium Capacity Ayeyawady United Pathein Ayar Stadium6,000 Chin United Hakha Wammathu Maung Stadium*4,000 Hanthawaddy United Bago Grand Royal Stadium4,000 Magwe Magway Magway Stadium*3,000 Nay Pyi Taw Nay Pyi Taw Wunna Theikdi Stadium30,000 Rakhine United Sittwe Weithali Stadium7,000 Shan United Taunggyi Taunggyi Stadium7,000 Southern Myanmar Mawlamyaing Ramanya Stadium10,000 Yadanarbon Mandalay Mandalarthiri Stadium30,000 Yangon United Yangon Yangon United Sports Complex3,500 G.F.A Chin Zwegapin United Hpa-An Aung Than Lwin Stadium3,000 (*) – not ready to play. MNL clubs that have not had their home stadia ready to host home matches currently use Aung San Stadium and Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.
Foreign players The number of foreign players is restricted to four per MNL club. A team can use three foreign players on the field in each game, including a slot for a player from among AFC countries. Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 AFC player Former Player Ayeyawady United Sébastien Etiemble Keith Martu Nah Ndongo Philippe Chin United Soulemadou Sackie Teah Doe Ahmadou Kaham Mardochee Arthur Kouassi GFA Atanga Effa Kostka Mark Sekyi Emmanuel Uzochukwu Hanthawaddy United Junior Marcinho Marcio Santos Magwe Abdulafees Abdulsalam Jean-Paul Hinako Oulaï Michael Falcon Sylla Sekou Nay Pyi Taw Ibrahim Bamba Gaoussou Saliffii Nishihara Takumu Shan United Djawa Maximin Patrick Kanyuka Christopher Chizoba Han Kyung-in Kim Hyun-woo Southern Myanmar Mirko Todorović Simeon Hristov Hedipo Gustavo Fernando Prado Rakhine United Argarawa Anderson Ebimo West Idoku Sunday Mathew Yadanarbon Williams Patrick Asare Yangon United Kekere Moukailou Emerson César Francis Emeka Zwekapin United Maranhão Clarke Clifford Moussa Ken Matsumoto Donald Bissa Djam Ronald Kufoin
Personnel and sponsoring Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorAyeyawady United Htet Min Saya Min Min Thu FBT AMI InsuranceChin United Shwe Shwe Aung Suan Lam Mang Pro Sport M-150G.F.A Htike Thiha Saya Mai Aih Naing Kronos Gospel For AsiaHanthawaddy United Saya Zaw Min Htut Aung Zaw FBTMagwe Win Hlaing Oo Hein Zar Aung Grand Sport Nay Pyi Taw Kyaw Zin Saya Chan Chan Warrix Sports Hotel ACERakhine United Phyo Thiha Naing Chan Nyein Kyaw United Amara BankShan United Soe Myat Min Thiha Sithu Pro Sport KBZ BankSouthern Myanmar FC Win Min Htike Soe Myat Thu Pro Sport Yuzana GroupYadanarbon Aung Phyo Saya Yan Paing FBT AlpineYangon United Ko Ko Oo Khin Maung Lwin Grand Sport First National InsuranceZwekapin United Saya Min Kyi Aung Latt Ko Ko Aye Htay Group
Managerial changes
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyWeekTableIncoming managerDate of appointment Zwekapin United U Min Kyi Resigned 29 April 2017 11 6th U Soe Moe 30 April 2017 Chin United U Min Tun Lynn Sacked 1 May 2017 11 12th U Myint Swe 2 May 2017 Southern Myanmar U Mya Lwin Sacked 9 May 2017 12 8th Fabiano Jose Costa Flora 9 May 2017
League table
Results
Matches Fixtures and results of the Myanmar National League 2017 season.Myanmar National League
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
Week 19
Week 20
Week 21
Week 22
Season statistics
Top scorers As of 29 October 2017. RankPlayerClubGoals 1 Keith Martu NahAyeyawady United 15 Christopher Chizoba Shan United3 Sunday MathewRakhine United 114 Marcio GomesHanthawaddy United 10 Patrick AsareYadanarbon EmmanuelGFA Francis EmekaYangon United 8 Dway Ko Ko ChitShan United 7 Thiha Zaw Ayeyawady United 10 Bamba Gaoussou Nay Pyi Taw6 Aung Thu Yadanarbon Thet NaingYadanarbon Win Naing SoeYadanarbon Simeon HristovSouthern Myanmar Kyaw Ko Ko Yangon United César Yangon United15 Suan Lam MangChin United 4
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Marcio Gomes Hanthawaddy United Nay Pyi Taw 4–3 14 May 2017 Patrick Asare Yadanarbon Chin United 6–1 2 June 2017 Patrick Asare Yadanarbon Hanthawaddy United 2–314 October 2017
Clean sheets As of 12 September 2017. RankPlayerClubClean sheets 1 Thiha SithuShan United 14 2 Kyaw Zin HtetYangon United 123 Van Lal HruaiaAyeyawady United84 Kyaw Zin PhyoMagwe75 Chan Nyein Kyaw Rakhine United6
Awards
Monthly awards MonthCoach of the MonthPlayer of the MonthReferenceCoachClubPlayerClubJanuary U Tin Maung Tun Yangon United Francis Emeka Yangon United February U Soe Myat Min Shan United Christopher Chizoba Shan United March & April U Tin Maung Tun Yangon United Kyaw Ko Ko Yangon United May U Soe Myat Min Shan United Thet Naing Yadanarbon
Attendances
Rank Club Average 1 Yadanarbon FC 800 2 Yangon United 700 3 Shan United 518 4 Southern Myanmar FC 418 5 Chin United 382 6 Ayeyawady United 359 7 Zwekapin United 336 8 Rakhine United 350 9 Magwe FC 318 10 Hantharwady United 305 11 Nay Pyi Taw FC 375 12 Gospel For Asia 270
See also 2017 MNL-2 2017 General Aung San Shield 2017 MFF Charity Cup 2016–17 Myanmar Women League
References
External links Myanmar National League Official Website Myanmar National League Facebook Official Page